Antiseptic wick: does it reduce the incidence of wound infection following appendectomy?
McGreal, Gerald T Joy, Aislinn Manning, Brian Kelly, John L O'Donnell, Joseph A Kirwan, W William O Redmond, H Paul
McGreal, Gerald T
Joy, Aislinn
Manning, Brian
Kelly, John L
O'Donnell, Joseph A
Kirwan, W William O
Redmond, H Paul
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2012-02-03T15:10:30Z
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Infective Agents, Local/*therapeutic use
Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Appendectomy/*methods
Appendicitis/*surgery
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Length of Stay
Male
Middle Aged
Postoperative Period
Povidone-Iodine/*therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Surgical Wound Infection/*prevention & control
*Suture Techniques
Treatment Outcome
Adult
Anti-Infective Agents, Local/*therapeutic use
Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Appendectomy/*methods
Appendicitis/*surgery
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Length of Stay
Male
Middle Aged
Postoperative Period
Povidone-Iodine/*therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Surgical Wound Infection/*prevention & control
*Suture Techniques
Treatment Outcome
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
The role of prophylactic antibiotics is well established for contaminated wounds, but the use of antiseptic wound wicks is controversial. The aim of this work was to study the potential use of wound wicks to reduce the rate of infection following appendectomy. This prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at a university hospital in the department of surgery. The subjects were patients undergoing appendectomy for definite acute appendicitis. They were randomized by computer to primary subcuticular wound closure or use of an antiseptic wound wick. For the latter, ribbon gauze soaked in povidone-iodine was placed between interrupted nylon skin sutures. Wicks were soaked daily and removed on the fourth postoperative day. All patients received antibiotic prophylaxis. They were reviewed while in hospital and 4 weeks following operation for evidence of wound infection. The main outcome measures were wound infection, wound discomfort, and cosmetic result. The overall wound infection rate was 8.6% (15/174). In patients with wound wicks it was 11.6% (10/86) compared to 5.6% (5/88) in those whose wounds were closed by subcuticular sutures (p = NS). We concluded that the use of wound wicks was not associated with decreased wound infection rates following appendectomy. Subcuticular closure is therefore appropriate in view of its greater convenience and safety.
Language
eng
ISSN
0364-2313 (Print)
0364-2313 (Linking)
0364-2313 (Linking)
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.1007/s00268-001-0281-3
PMID
12098059